"Krispy Kreme x Pop-Tarts with Jess McKenna" is Episode 479 of Doughboys, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Krispy Kreme x Pop-Tarts with Jess McKenna" was released on January 23, 2025.
"Tomorrow… with Jess McKenna" - @doughboyspod
Synopsis[]
Jess McKenna (@jessjessmckenna, Off Book) joins the 'boys to talk Disneyland, Massachusetts geography, and musicals before a review of Krispy Kreme x Pop-tarts doughnuts. Plus, the debut of Thirst Responders.
Nick's intro[]
“Back at it again at Krispy Kreme”: So begins one of the most memorable posts of all time on the now-defunct video-sharing app, Vine. The sub-six second clip starts with that direct-to-camera sign-on, followed by the speaker - interior donut shop, night - executing a spectacular series of back handsprings, climaxing with the acrobat accidentally kicking a large lit sign off the store wall. The dizzying sequence ends as the heavy neon donut signboard plummets to the floor, but notably before impact, which only adds to the video's own impact.
"back at it again at Krispy Kreme"
“Back at it again at Krispy Kreme” went viral many times over after its 2014 circulation by gymnastics-clip aggregator, Fab Cheerleader, but its star was unknown for years, before a thoroughly researched 2016 New York Magazine article by Brian Feldman identified him as an Atlanta-based tumbling instructor named Aaron. Aaron said the impromptu routine led to a visit from the cops, resulting in him deleting the clip from his own account and distancing himself till the heat died down.
But it was additionally an inadvertent bit of viral marketing for an 87-year old North Carolina-based donut chain, which endured economic turmoil from over-expansion in the early 21st century and has now stabilized under private ownership. In recent years, it's engaged in fruitful brand partnerships: acquiring Crumbl competitor Insomnia Cookies — later flipped for profit; launching a successful pilot program to offer its donuts inside McDonald’s; and, in January 2025, debuting a crossover with grocery-store toaster pastry Pop-Tarts.
The signature non-cereal offering of Kellanova, which rebranded from Kellogg in 2023, apparently because it didn’t sound enough like a defense contractor from Robocop, Pop-Tarts debuted back in 1964, after a development process artlessly and joylessly portrayed in Jerry Seinfeld’s execrable Netflix original film, Unfrosted. (A bad movie from Netflix, weird.)
Feldman’s New York Magazine profile of the undercover Vine star concludes with the sentence, “Asked if he had any other thoughts to add, Aaron stated, as a matter of fact, ‘Tumbling is life.’” And it’s hard to argue, considering Aaron’s virtuosic display of human mastery converging with unintentional destruction packs more raw entertainment into six seconds than Unfrosted does into 93 dogshit minutes.
This week on Doughboys… we’re back at it again at Krispy Kreme, to review the Krispy Kreme x Pop-Tarts collaboration.
Fork rating[]
Krispy Kreme x Pop-Tarts
The Doughboys have reviewed Krispy Kreme twice before. The first time was way back in 2016, when Nick gave it 3.5 forks and Mitch 3. The second time they went was in 2022 and Nick gave it 4.25 forks and Mitch 4 (and the guest, Sam, gave it 6). It is in thus in the Golden Plate Club.
They also tried Krispy Kreme's Reese's Filled Donuts in 2019, which nobody liked.
| guest / host | ordered | rating |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
4 forks |
| Mike Mitchell | 4 forks | |
| Jess McKenna | 4 forks | |
| Evan Susser | 4 forks |
Despite the purpose of this trip to try the special Pop-Tarts menu, the Doughboys do offer their final ratings on Krispy Kreme as a whole. Susser texted his thoughts and fork rating, and Nick read it on the show. It seems everyone liked the Frosted Strawberry the best.
With these scores, Krispy Kreme remains the Golden Plate Club!
Doughboys Upper Decker Review (2nd Fork Rating)[]
Also live during the episode, the Doughboys had some pizza from LaSorted's Pizza in Silver Lake, CA. (It's a small chain which has two locations in LA.)
| guest / host | ordered | rating |
|---|---|---|
| Nick Wiger |
|
4 forks |
| Mike Mitchell | 4 forks | |
| Jess McKenna | 4 forks |
With these scores, LaSorted's also makes the Golden Plate Club!
Thirst Responders 🚒[]
Eagles "Desperado"
| “ | Thirst responder WHy don't you come, come drink a beverage? |
” |
In this segment, Nick gives Mitch and the guest some scenarios in which they may be thirsty. They have to decide what is their ideal drink for that situation.
| scenario | Mitch's ideal drink | Jess' ideal drink |
|---|---|---|
| Hungover from New Year's Eve, the next day you find the perfect drink in your fridge. | ice cold Gatorade Glacier Freeze | room temp Gatorade Lemon Lime |
| While watching the "these pretzels are making me thirsty" episode of Seinfeld, you've been made thirsty by the pretzels you're eating. What drink to cut the salt? | Bud Light on tap | ice cold La Croix Pure |
| You're a 10th grader in gym class, struggling to finish your run. You see a drink in a can at the end that pushes you to finish harder. | Sunkist | ice cold Cactus Cooler |
| You've been marooned for weeks and drinking your own urine. The Coast Guard rescues you at last second and they give you a bottle of thirst-quenching liquid. What is it? | cold water from The Waterboy | $20 brunch cocktail with coconut water in it and a tiny bit of alcohol |
| A wizard transmogrifies you into a dog or a cat. You can't open the fridge with your paws, so you can only drink out of the toilet. The wizard has changed the toilet water into something delicious. What is it? | milk | peach green tea (decaf) |
| You're marooned on Arrakis.... [I am not about to summarize this]. What is the beverage? | a Nick Wiger | Dr. Pepper |
Roast Spoonman[]
Austin Powers, Dr. Evil, Fat Bastard
| “ | Dr. Eatvil (or Cat Bastard) | ” |
–Tony O | ||
"Burrowin' in the Sand" by Muad'ylan[]
Bob Dylan "Blowin' in the Wind"
| “ | How much Melange must Atreides consume Before he is Lisan al-Gaib? |
” |
The Feedbag[]
| “ | If you were transplanted back in time before electricity, what meal would you cook to increase your societal status? | ” |
–Jack in Highland Park, CA | ||
| guest / host | what to cook without electricity |
|---|---|
| Nick Wiger | grilled cheese sandwich |
| Mike Mitchell | caesar salad |
| Jess McKenna | chicken nuggets or fries |
Quotes[]
| “ | Jess: If your dick doesn't look like Florida? Oh man... Mitch (sadly): My dick looks like Rhode Island. |
” |
–Doughboys re: geography | ||
| “ | I think there was a line of sugar in my nostril. | ” |
–Mike Mitchell | ||
| “ | I don't want an apple the size of a grapefruit, I want an apple the size of an apple. | ” |
–Nick Wiger | ||
Drops and Plugs[]
| reference | notes |
|---|---|
| "Wonderwall (Golden Corral)" drop | runner-up from Drop Off 4 (by Big Cat Music Squad) |
| Off Book | Jess' podcast |
Related Episodes[]
| Krispy Kreme episodes | Pop-Tarts episodes | Jess McKenna episodes |
|---|---|---|
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Photos[]
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